Chapter 5

Lana

His hands were already tugging my underwear down when his mouth found its way to the soaked heat between my thighs.

“Are you sure?” he asked with restraint, searching my face for permission, though his hands told a different story.

I silenced him with a kiss, dragging his hand between my slick folds, guiding his fingers inside me.

“Fuck,” the word tumbled out of me as my head fell back and my body arched into him. This satisfaction and rush were everything I needed.

I climbed onto his lap, straddling him as he kissed me like he owned me…like he had every right to. And just when it was about to get better..

“Time’s up, lovebirds,” Tina’s mocking voice interrupted our moment.

I scrambled off Luca. He got up and walked to the door, glaring at her.

“Get. Out.” He slammed it shut behind her.

When he turned back to me, his blue eyes weren’t just glowing but they were wild. He gave me the kind of look that made my pulse quicken for all the wrong reasons. I still burned and ached for him, but the side effect had faded and reality crashed down hard.

What the hell did I just do?

I felt a huge amount of shame rush through my veins as I smoothed my hair and dress while looking at him. How could I? I’d thrown myself at him and begged him like some desperate, underfucked whore.

I walked past him hoping we could skip the awkward post-makeout conversation. But his hand caught mine and I felt a spark that was impossible to ignore.

“Look, Luca, whatever happened was a mista..”

“The binding ceremony is in five days.” He cut in coldly.

I blinked. “What? That’s too soon.”

“But climbing into my lap and begging me to fuck you wasn’t?” His words made my anger flare up.

“I wouldn’t have if your witch friend hadn’t messed with my head.”

“Tina did this…?”

Something shifted in his expression and his voice dropped. “Aphrodisiac.”

He exhaled slowly. “I’ll deal with her. But the ritual date stands, Lana. Get prepared.”

He left without another word, locking the door behind him.

Yes, Tina had drugged me but why hadn’t he stopped? Why did he please me in the right ways when he hated me? Was it the mate bond?

***

I tried to push him out of my mind, but the days dragged on in silence. I didn’t see Luca or Tina. I wasn’t allowed to leave the estate. I couldn’t even pick my own wedding dress and my phone was gone. My freedom too.

On my wedding night, maids bathed me, oiled my skin, and draped me in a gown meant for a contract bride.

A black SUV waited outside, flanked by five armed men and a driver. Luca wasn’t there, and I preferred it that way. The venue was elegant but surprisingly underwhelming for a billionaire. Not that it mattered since this was business.

As I stepped out, my father was already waiting. His hand gripped mine like he hadn’t just sold me and stripped me of my CEO title. He said nothing, and neither did I.

The hall was filled with strangers whose eyes followed me like predators. Even without knowing much about the supernatural world, I could feel their hunger. My father walked me down the aisle toward Luca. When his gaze lifted to meet mine, it felt like I forgot how to breathe completely.

He looked unreal. How could a man look so handsome and beautiful at the same time? Our eyes locked, and for a moment, it felt like we were the only ones in the room. I tore my eyes away, unsettled by how my pulse reacted.

“I need to use the restroom,” I murmured, slipping away before anyone could stop me.

I wandered into a narrow corridor and paused. What was I doing here? A door cracked open and I heard some voices. One was very familiar.

Tina’s voice panicked. “I’m telling you… It was there. I thought I was imagining it, but it’s real.”

Fear in Tina’s voice? That was new.

“I don’t want excuses, Tina,” a woman’s voice replied. “If the Morettis or anyone else get it before we do, you’re dead.”

Tina’s tone cracked. “I… couldn’t bring myself to take it. It almost consumed me.”

“Then kill the girl if that’s what it takes. But get the crystal out of her.”

The Crystal? Girl? Morettis? Were they talking about me? But what crystal?

The floor creaked under my step. Tina’s head snapped toward the doorway and our eyes locked.

Shit.

I ran and didn’t dare look back. My mind raced. What crystal? What did she mean? Had I just signed my death sentence by overhearing this? I couldn’t stop thinking till I slammed into someone tall and broad.

“You?” I gasped.

Adrian Stones blinked down at me. “Are you okay? You look… lost.”

For a split second, his eyes flickered red before returning to normal. Anyone would have missed it but I caught it. Was he a witch too?

My father appeared before I could speak. “They’re waiting.” He seized my arm and dragged me back.

I walked like a puppet with my mind spinning from the things I just witnessed in a few minutes.

A rope was tied around my wrist and Luca’s. “Drink his blood,” an elder commanded.

Luca sliced his palm and offered it. I hesitated but brought his wrist to my lips after feeling the weight of the eyes of everyone in this room. The rope burned and vanished. Finally, the ritual was successful and over.

Or that’s what I thought because instead of relief, whispers erupted. Luca’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“That… doesn’t make sense,” Luca muttered. “She’s my mate. It’s the full moon. This is the perfect time for bonding.”

I heard more whispers from the crowd. I didn’t want this wedding but this wasn’t what I wanted either.

The elder took my hands and her eyes turned white. She trembled, then recoiled like I’d burned her.

“She has it,” she whispered. “She carries the forbidden crystal.”

Gasps rippled through the hall.

“She’s the cursed one,” the elder cried, stepping back from me like I was a toxic object.

Tina’s face drained of color as she entered the hall. What seemed like her secret was now exposed.

The crowd moved toward me with hate in their eyes.

I turned to look at my father but he was aiming a gun at me. I felt my heart shatter into a million pieces. We never had the best relationship and I spent years being abused by him but I never thought he would try to kill me. There was only hatred in his eyes.

“Are you seriously going to kill me?” I asked as tears slid down my cheeks.

“If I don’t kill you now, you’ll destroy everything just like the prophecy said.” He said coldly as he almost pulled the trigger.

Luca stepped between us, his growl shaking the air. “How dare you point a gun… at my mate?”